24 September 2010
Newest Addition to SCGH.com: Fuel Cell Center
Fuel Cells: Eco-Benefits
Reduced air pollution to
energy independence
The environmental impact of fuel
cells depends on the type of cell
and the fuel being used. Fuel cells
can run on a variety of sources,
from natural gas to hydrogen to
ethanol to biogas. Those that run
on hydrogen can sometimes
produce a by-product of water or
heat, though hydrogen fuel cells
are considered more difficult to
work with because of
transportation and storage. More
user friendly fuel cells which use
natural gas with emissions that
are much lower than those
produced by conventional engines
or energy sources and can reduce
your carbon footprint by around
40%. Additionally, there are only
negligible levels of NOx, SOx,
Volatile organic compounds and
particulates, which is a drastic
improvement over traditional
means of grid power production.
Besides the decreased CO2
emissions and high efficiency rates,
fuel cells offer plenty of positive
environmental impacts that should
be considered by investors and
consumers as solutions for cleaner
energy are being further researched.
Are you a sustainable business with eco-friendly products or services?
Learn more about our GreenCheck and Advertising Opportunities.
1. Fuel Conservation
The use of fuel cells can
significantly diminish our
dependency on foreign oil. Since
fuel cells make energy
electrochemically and do not burn
fuel like conventional combustion
systems, they are much more
efficient. Admittedly, some fuel
cells need fossil fuels to start their
functions; most residential systems
run partially off of natural gas.
If just 20% of the cars in America
used fuel cells, we could cut oil
imports by 1.5 million barrels per
day. This is $44 billion per year that
could remain in the country!
Click Here For The Full Article
MY INNER
GREEN
Blog by Jennifer Schwab
Time to Bag the Bags
We‘ve all seen images
of birds and fish, with plastic grocery bags in
mouth. Disturbing indeed, and don‘t think this
is propaganda from PETA. Plastic bags are
entering our food chain through oceans, rivers
and the stomachs of wildlife. The toxins they
carry are nearly impossible to eliminate as we
don‘t really know how if ever they break down
naturally.
You might ask well how do all these bags get
into our water supply, most people throw them
away when they unpack their groceries, right?
You‘d be amazed how these little wonders of
mass production have nine lives, so to speak.
They go to landfills, where they blow away due
to their zero weight, almost like kites on a
gentle breeze. Gulls and pigeons carry them for
the food scraps inside. You get the idea. For a
compelling visual of how this works, view the
video ―The Plastic Bag‖ (trust me it‘s a lot more
entertaining than it sounds, very well done). ...
Click here to view video and continue with blog
In this issue:
Advantages of Fuel Cell 1
Technology PG 2
Preaching What You 1
Practice PG 4
Check out our featured 2
GreenCheck Providers
PG 5
24 September 2010

Click Here to Get Started

Advantages of Fuel Cell Technology

Who doesn‘t want to save money, the planet, and be energy independent?
Electric rates are going nowhere but up. Although we can make changes to conserve energy, we often don‘t have the luxury of
turning off every electronic device, lamp and power strip.

Perhaps the way to solve this dilemma is to look at the source of your home‘s power supply. Renewable energy options are
increasingly available these days – from solar panels to backyard wind turbines to fuel cell technology. If you‘re specifically
looking for a quick return on your investment (average 5 years) and prefer a compact and quiet energy source, on-site fuel
cells provide a very viable alternative.

Fuel cells come in different shapes, sizes, and power capabilities. And like solar power, fuel cells can be used for heating water
and require no combustion. In general, the payback on residential fuel cell technology can be faster than solar.

Read on to learn more about all the great benefits fuel cells have to offer.

Come Wind or High Water

Fuel cells can be used year round because their efficiency is not directly impacted by weather. Solar panels require lots of sun-
shine, and wind turbines need steady, fairly strong winds. Imagine 24/7 heat and power, all coming from a clean energy
source!

Breathe Deeply

The main by-products of fuel cell chemistry can be heat and a small amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). Despite the CO2 emis-
sions, they are tremendously less than those produced by burning fossil fuels. Fuel cells are clearly part of the answer to a cre-
ating a more sustainable atmosphere and limiting global warming concerns.

Article Continues on Page 3….

Find Out More About Fuel Cell Technology Here

24 September 2010

GreenCheck is a great source of credibility for your company and ensures to

your clients, old and new, that you are taking the extra steps towards environ-
mental responsibility. Learn more about our GreenCheck.

Advantages of Fuel Cell Technology continued...

Efficiency

With proper maintenance and use, fuel cells can be 60 – 90% efficient. Fuel cells can be even more efficient if the
heat produced from their function is diverted to heat residential water or indoor space. This is contrasted with only 20-
30% efficiency of traditional grid based power.

Sleep Easy

Unlike the humming produced by your local electric towers or wind turbines, fuel cell systems work 24/7 and sound
similar to a typical air conditioning unit. This makes them a perfect clean energy addition to any residential or popu-
lated commercial area.

Energy Independence

A properly integrated fuel cell system can help you save up to 50% on your utility bills. Producing your own clean en-
ergy also significantly reduces your need for grid power, although you will still need a natural gas supply to help run
the fuel cell. You won‘t be completely ―off the grid‖ but much closer. And, you will be less susceptible to the impact of
rising costs per kilowatt hour charged by the utility company.

No More Oil Spills

Fuel Cells can run on a variety of available fuels, most popular being hydrogen. They can also function on fuels such
as natural gas, alcohol, biogas, ethanol, and methanol. If you are striving for a 100% clean energy source you may
want to look into fuel cells that do not need hydrocarbons to function.

Click Here To Continue Reading the Article...

Abi Wright, Marketing Coordinator

awright@scgh.com
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24 September 2010

Abi Wright, Marketing Coordinator for SCGH

awright@scgh.com
Preaching What You Practice: Green Marketing

We all certainly know, or are at least familiar with, the term ―greenwashing‖. This is basically spinning or disguising a com-
pany‘s products or services as being eco-friendly, when in fact it‘s just a very deceptive use of Green Marketing.

I come across this all the time when listening to the radio and watching television. In radio, you have a well thought-out, 30
to 60 second commercial that is strategically written to catch your attention—but as soon as you‘ve heard it, it‘s over—it‘s
gone. The advertiser doesn‘t know how effective the commercial was and really, if the audience even paid attention to it at
all. In television, not only is there a great expense to produce the commercial (and one must think about the carbon footprint
involved in that process alone) but you‘re again looking at a 30 to 60 second television ad that costs additional money just
to air. You really can‘t be sure these days about the saturation or effect it truly has on the viewing audience and this isn‘t
even mentioning the validity of how sustainable the product or service actually is! With radio and television, seeing and hear-
ing about a product doesn‘t make it green—the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, and until you actually purchase the prod-
uct or service do you honestly find out for sure. Online advertising, however, is different.

According to Internet World Stats appprox 266,244,500 people are internet users in North America which is 77% of the esti-
mated North American population (Jun. 2010). Just knowing this little bit of information tells us one thing: The internet is
the future! It‘s more affordable to advertise online than with TV or print, and radio/outdoor advertising is becoming a thing
of the past due to its inability to engage the consumer. With online advertising you can:

target your specific market offer a visual and sometimes audio aid for your ads
measure your results hyperlink to your company‘s website
change your creative as quickly and often as needed offer additional discounts with just the click of a finger.

With online advertising, you have greater opportunity to reach more people, more frequently.

When it seems that every company is offering a ‗green product‘ it‘s even more important to advertise your credibility behind
what you have, how it makes a difference, and why it‘s more sustainable or environmentally friendly than your competition.
Have you ever heard the phrase, ‗Practice what you Preach?‘ It‘s true, but what about, ‗Preaching what you Practice?‘ In or-
der to avoid being labeled a Greenwasher you need to align your company with reputable organizations that promote parallel
platforms. That‘s why we created Sierra Club Green Home‘s GreenCheck™. This is a verification process for our visitors and
users to know that each GreenCheck™ provider listed in our database has taken the time to enforce their company‘s steps
towards greater environmental sustainability. The SCGH GreenCheck™ is specifically designed to address a company‘s prod-
uct or services in one or more of the following fields:

1. Indoor air quality impact 5. Waste

2. Energy usage 6. Customer education
3. Water usage 7. Provider health
4. Material usage 8. Provider business practices

Sierra Club is a major competitive advantage in a field where authenticity is crucial! When you become an SCGH
GreenCheck™ provider, you will receive our official SCGH GreenCheck™ logo which can be placed on your site, your ad, even
your other marketing materials! You can align your company with a 118 year-old, nationally recognized environmental organi-
zation—talk about true Green Marketing! And that‘s not all Sierra Club Green Home can offer you! We also have skyscraper
ad space available, article sponsorships, and other additional advertising opportunities!
Preach what you practice and contact Sierra Club Green Home today!
In this issue:
Fuel Cell Savings PG 2
Want to join the Sierra Club Green Home community? Advantages of Fuel Cell
Technology PG 2
Make a username or a provider account on
www.sierraclubgreenhome.com. Check out our featured
GreenChecked Providers PG 5
2
24 September 2010

Sierra Club Green Home is proud to present our featured GreenCheck providers
Thank you for going green!

Featured Premium GreenCheck Providers:

Featured GreenCheck Providers:

HDR Remodeling
Arizona Solar Concepts LLC
star energy construction
What is the GreenCheck?
DreamSacks Inc.
The GreenCheck review is an annual process Energy Beyond Design Inc.
for all providers as new information and issues Pacific Sun Technologies, Inc
occur constantly within the environmental SealwiZe Northwest
sector. We want to make sure that our provid- Environmental Systems Associates Inc.
ers are keeping their promises to offer Infrared Diagnostic LLC
Green Dream Group LLC
greener, safer, and more responsible practices
Green Girl Gift Wrap
than what is generally available. Sierra Club is
eZing Inc
a major competitive advantage as it brings in-
Pure Eco Environmental Solutions
stant credibility in a space where authenticity
Dropwise Essentials
is crucial. GreenCheck is a great source of Apple Air Conditioning and Heating Inc
credibility for a company and it assures clients, R.A. NIELSEN & SONS
old and new, that a company is taking the ex- In this issue:
tra steps towards environmental responsibil-
Fuel Cells: Eco Benefits PG 1
ity. For more information please visit our
My Inner Green:
GreenCheck webpage. Time to Bag the Bags PG 1

Preaching What You 2

Practice PG 4